Meaning of Resolve

“Oh Holy Mother, we beseech thee. Offer us your blessing to this land so that we may remain safe in you warm embrace.” Luna chanted kneeling with the staff raced above her head. This prayer would offer the orphanage’s grounds protection. What does that entailed? Leo never asked.

There was a beat where nothing happened. No wind or sound except of dull catering of metal. Luna seemed to be trembling causing the staff’s ornaments to clang.

Just as Leo raised his hand and attempt to speak his world went white and the statue before him was no longer made of stone.

“Greetings child.” She said tenderly looking towards him despite keeping her eyes close.

Leo looked around seeing that only he was here. Thanks to Rebecca’s memories he knew this was the Goddess Tessa, “Hello…”

“I’m surprised you took so long to contact me, but I suppose, you aren’t here for that.”

“Yeah… I wasn’t even the one who contacted you now.”

“Very true, which means I do not have as much time as I would like to discuss things. Luckily you are a very quick otherworlder and you understand your objective.” The Goddess then held out her hands as she walked towards Leo and generated two balls of light. “While my help is limited, seeing as you pieced things together yourself, I can give you a little ‘freebie’ as you would say. Along with this place’s blessing.”

“Thank you.” Leo said graciously taking the two balls of light, one dissipating as soon as he took it while the other entered him. “Wait, this is-”

Before he could speak his next words, the Goddess Teressa pulled him into an embrace. He was very conscious of her body now and was extremely flustered… until she stroked his head and gave a small peck on his forehead.

“You’ll be okay… remember Leo, you have those that believe in you.”

Again, his world went white and he was back in the room with the statue holding Zentella’s hand, reminding him that this was reality. “Now why did you have to say that?” Leo muttered feeling dejected. He knew the Goddess meant well, but those words began to cause doubts to spring back up in his mind. Doubts that he thought he left when he took on this mission.

“Pretty.” Zentella said pointing in the direction of the statue which seem to be glowing a faint white.

“Oh thank you Holy Mother. Thank you for your blessing.” Luna bowed further sounding extremely relived. She got up and practically shoved the staff into Leo’s arms. “Thank you Mister Salazar. I ask that you keep this.”

“Oh uh… sure.” He said absentmindedly taking the staff.

DING-DONG DING-DONG

“It even causes the bells to ring?” Zentella asked lazily looking out the building

Luna chuckled, “No little Zen, that’s the bell for dinner.”

Grumble Grumble

A strange sound that Leo became accustom to in the days it took to get her. Zentella was hungry. “I guess we should go get something to eat too.”

“Oh, you both can stay, I insist. You've done us a huge favor.”

Not even a second after the offer Zentella disappeared in a flash running towards the cafeteria.

“Hey! Wait! Arghh!” Leo said barely registering what had happened.

“Hehe, it is quite alright Mister Salazar,” Luna giggled, “I do not envy you.”

“Your two statements are unrelated.”

They soon both laughed with each other before the mood suddenly turned. Leo was processing his doubts while Luna seemed to want to get something off her chest. In the end she was the one to break the silence.

“You think I’m a failure don’t you.” She stated. After all, even though she couldn’t fully perform the rite, she still felt the Goddess’ presence. Tressa talked to him, not her.

“You’re not a failure.” was what Leo wanted to say… no that’s what Luna wanted to hear. “What makes you say that? You did this knowing you couldn’t call the Goddess on your own.”

Luna stiffen at his comment, “But I couldn’t even use the staff properly. In the end you ended up helping me more.”

“No, I didn’t.” Say that Leo, just say that, “I don’t know what to tell ya. I just happened to be blessed already by the Goddess.”

“I tried you know… I tried to become a priestess.” Her voice became a little sharper matching his tone before weakening, “It was just… so hard.”

“Hmm…” Leo shrugged, feeling familiarity in those words. Whatever the test ended up being, Luna probably spent her time with the kids than putting her all into preparing.

“I keep saying I’ll try again, but…”

“Your work keeps getting in the way.” Leo finished

“No, I love this work. I love these children. It could never get in the way.”

“Then try for them.” Remember those words Leo? Remember who told you that? “Then what’s the problem?”

“Wha?” Luna said barely holding back tears

“You sound like you already made up your mind.”

“But this place needs-”

“You.” Leo looked at Luna sharply, “Someone not you, someone stronger than you. Your Saint just died the other day. There is no safety net now. This place… and the others orphanages need someone just as strong as them. If you can’t be that person then just… let someone else be it. Don’t saddle yourself with such an unnecessary burden.”

SMACK!

Tears were now fully streaming down Luna’s face as she looked at her hand which had just smacked Leo hard. “These children… they aren’t an unnecessary burdens.” She rubbed her hand, “I… I won’t give up on them…”

Leo rubbed his face, “I never said to give up on the children, just the pressure you are putting yourself under.”

She shook her head, “No… no one else can be the one they need.”

“And you are?”

“I have been with them, I laughed with them, I held them when they cried their hearts out. Who else will know their pain? With Rebecca gone… she was the only…” Again she shook her head, “I chose this burden…” She did. She uprooted her life to come her. She answered the Saint’s call. She was not going to throw away and abandon her choice all those years ago. She began to walk away. Finally taking a new step forward. “I will not revoke my hospitality Mister Salazar. I expect to see you in the dinning hall. If I get wind of you giving up on that girl so help me, the Holy Mother herself cannot protect you.”

Leo just stared at the retreating figure of Sister Luna and still rubbing his cheek, “Man what did I say?” He knew what he said… he knew he told her to give up. He told her to escape this burden. He disappointed her, just as he always does. Just like all the others who ever believed in him. The same ones that the Goddess reminded him about. She wanted to hear the strength of someone chosen by the Goddess. She wanted to see such strength show her the way…

“I wish I had your strength Sister Luna.” He spoke out slowly walking to the dinning hall in search of the small crimson hair girl waiting for him.